OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE HIGHLAND PARK 'ODIN' IN STOCKHOLM

If you've ended up here you're probably already following The Malt desk on either Twitter (@TheMaltDesk) or via my Facebook page. You've probably also come across the use of the hash tag # and if you've been following Highland Park Distillery lately you will certainly have come across #ODIN100

The #ODIN100-tag was put into use by Highland Park to mark 100 days to the launch of the of the final whisky in their Valhalla-series and, of course, also to help Highland Park fans follow future posts counting down to the release of the final whisky in the series - the Odin

The Highland Park Odin - picture courtesy of Edrington

Officially launched on the 16th of February, the Odin sold out from the both the distillery and major online retailers in the UK in a flash - some reporting their stock being gone as fast as 15mins, so as with its predecessors, the Thor, Loki and Freya, the punters again gave each other a run for their money.

The complete Valhalla series, February 17th 2015 © The Malt Desk

The first official tasting did not take place until the 17th February though, and events were held both in Sweden and in the UK and just under a dozen of us were invited to an exclusive afternoon session in Stockholm under the guidance of Senior Brand Ambassador Martin Markvardsen and by attending this event, I'm in the very lucky position to have be present at the launch of all 4 of whiskies in this series when they were released in Sweden and Denmark... so all in all a very nice recap for me :-)

After reading the official tasting notes on the Odin I quickly spotted the heavier influence of sherry casks than in the previous releases. This certainly upped my expectations... and as the previous releases very much tropical fruit/citrus driven - this certainly sounded like a darker and heavier profile to me of Odin's and his ravens.

The setting is tasteful as always, February 17th 2015  © The Malt Desk

We started, though, with a revisit to the previous whiskies in the Valhalla series, the Thor, Loki and Freya - all very nice whiskies and a natural build-up to the Odin, which, according to Martin was the hardest to put together for the Highland Park whiskymaker Max Mcfarlane as the Odin should be the Allfather of the Gods, big and powerful and at the same time not resembling any of the previous releases... So, did Max succeed?

Martin Markvardsen presenting the Odin, February 17th 2015 © The Malt Desk

Highland Park 'Odin' 16yo 55,8%, 17000 bottles, Distillery bottling

Matured mainly, but not exclusively, in Spanish oak sherry casks

Colour is amber

Nose:

Big, spicy and powerful! Highland Park certainly got this right! There's a distinct smoky edge covered in sherry and dried fruit notes, but the main theme is spice!

Peppery, nutmeg and cloves, strong cinnamon like in some oriental dishes, eucalyptus and candied orange and a slight burnt edge, like toasted oak and sugars along with lots of smoke from wet firewood. The whole thing is delivered by a healthy abv of 55,8% ensuring that the notes reaches your olfactory system in full force

Taste:

Odin certainly lets everyone know when he enters the Great Hall...

Again the spiciness is big! It has just a slight dirtiness to it which really gives it some backbone. There's dark chocolate, cappuccino, plums, tobacco leaves, ash, dark honey, Quality Street Orange sweets, quite some nutmeg, bbq wood chips and a refreshing gingery tang on the finish. Add to this an all present peatyness...

This is the 18yo Highland Park x10 on everything + added spiciness

This is big whisky and a very fitting end to the Valhalla series!

That said, I'm thinking some may find this just a bit of a brute, although I don't...

Anyway, it's one of, if not, the best of the series, IMO... but I'm really splitting hairs here when comparing with the Thor and Loki which I liked a lot. I'm down to the best being dependent on which mood you're in...

90/100!

Thanks to Edrington DK and Holm & Bertung for invitation to the event

Finally, if you're interested in how Odin compares to the other whiskies in the Valhalla series, you can find my notes on here by clicking the name-links in italic the Thor, the Loki and the Freya...

NEW RELEASE: REDBREAST MANO A LÁMH - DISTILLERY BOTTLING

REDBREAST UNVEILS ITS FIRST ALL SHERRY MATURED WHISKEY

- New limited edition whiskey available exclusively

to members of The Stillhouse via www.SinglePotStill.com -

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has announced the launch of Redbreast Mano a Lámh, the first expression in the Redbreast range to be matured solely in ex-oloroso sherry butts. This special whiskey is the latest release from the Midleton Distillery as it aims to satisfy the increasing global demand for new and original Single Pot Still Irish whiskeys.

Mano a Lámh, meaning ‘hand in hand’ in Spanish and Gaelic respectively, represents the relationship and passion between the Midleton Distillery and the collective of artisans in Spain, which has crafted the distillery’s sherry butts for more than 20 years.
Specially commissioned for the Midleton Distillery, oak is felled in the forests of Galicia, north-west Spain, and then crafted and seasoned by some of the country’s most prestigious family businesses. The Antonio Páez Lobato Bodega in the South crafts the oak into casks, which are then seasoned with Oloroso sherry for two years at the prestigious Páez Morilla Bodega in the nearby sherry capital of the world, Jerez.

The freshly seasoned sherry butts are then shipped promptly, during the cooler winter months, to the Midleton Distillery where they are then filled with new make pot still whiskeys.

Redbreast Mano a Lámh is being released exclusively to members of The Stillhouse, the web-based members club for Single Pot Still Irish whiskey fans. The Stillhouse forms part of the www.singlepotstill.com website, which launched in 2011, to educate discerning whiskey lovers about the quality and provenance of this unique style of Irish whiskey.

While the core Redbreast range is matured in a combination of American bourbon and Spanish oloroso butts, Redbreast Mano a Lámh luxuriates in this signature sherry style by bringing together whiskeys which have been matured exclusively in first fill Spanish oloroso sherry casks, imparting distinct, rich, fruity flavours and a full body.

Billy Leighton, Master Blender at Midleton Distillery, said: “Redbreast Mano a Lámh celebrates our longstanding relationship with the family of artisans in Spain who craft our sherry butts, which are so synonymous with the signature style of Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish whiskey. It was an exciting challenge as a Master Blender to work on this project; having to ensure that the right balance was achieved and the sherry contribution did not over power in the final taste. For me, Redbreast Mano a Lámh offers a distinctive, rich whiskey with intense flavours of dried fruit, which gives way to the perfection of the Spanish oak. I am really eager to learn what our Stillhouse members and Redbreast fans think of this rare expression.”

Brendan Buckley, Global Innovation and Prestige Whiskeys Director at Irish Distillers added: “Since its re-launch in May 2011, Single Pot Still Irish whiskey has quickly established itself as the insiders’ Irish whiskey style of choice with the Redbreast brand very much at the vanguard of this revival. We hope that Redbreast Mano a Lámh will excite whiskey lovers, especially those who enjoy sherried style whiskeys”.

“The coming together of tradition and people, talents and passions – true craftspeople working hand in hand through generations and across borders – is what has helped make Redbreast the most definitive Single Pot Still Irish whiskey in the world and long may it continue.”

Limited to just 2,000 bottles, Redbreast Mano a Lámh is non-chill filtered at 46% ABV and is available exclusively to members of The Stillhouse from February 2015, priced at €65. For more information on Single Pot Still Irish whiskey and to join The Stillhouse, visit www.singlepotstill.com. 

Redbreast Mano a Lámh tasting notes by Billy Leighton, Midleton Master Blender

Nose: Very deep dried fruits, raisins and sultanas with the more earthy tones of fig, dates and prunes. The sweetness is from the fruit and balances perfectly with pot still spices such as dill and black pepper, and the contribution of the toasted Spanish oak.

Taste: Silky smooth and deceptively sweet, full of rich, ripe, dark fruit with the leisurely emergence of the signature spices.

Finish: The rich fruit slowly gives way to the perfection of the Spanish oak.

Source: Pernod Ricard

NEW SINGLE CASK RELEASES FROM WEMYSS MALTS

Wemyss Malts, the indie bottler involved in the Kingsbarn Distillery currently under construction near St. Andrew in Fife is releasing 12 single cask bottling this Autumn. The releases represent a a wide array of whisky from almost all Scotland's whisky producing regions.

The latest releases from Wemyss Malts - picture courtesy of the Wemyss press release

"Vintage Strawberry Punnet" - 1988 single cask from Invergordon, Single Grain
"Sweet Peat Posy" - 1987 single cask from Bowmore, Islay
"Aniseed Pastille" - 1996 single cask from Bowmore, Islay
"Thread of Smoke" - 1991 single cask from Bunnahabhain, Islay
"Smoke on the Water" - 1982 single cask from Caol Ila, Islay
"Floral Trellis" - 1988 single cask from Tormore, Speyside
"In a Bluebell Wood" - 1995 single cask from Glen Grant, Speyside
"Summer Fruit Cup" - 1998 single cask from Auchentoshan, Lowlands
"Cayenne Cocoa Bean" - 1997 single cask from Clynelish, Highlands
"Bench with a Sea View" - 1997 single cask from Clynelish, Highlands
"Peaches and Cream" - 1989 single cask from Glen Garioch, Highlands
"Blackcurrant Coulis" - 1991 single cask from Blair Athol, Highlands

The RRP of these malts is from £70-£200 and they'll be available soon from retailers in the UK, EU and some Asian markets before long.

Source: Wemyss Malts Press Release

NEW HIGHLAND PARKS FOR TRAVEL RETAIL AUTUMN 2013

As mentioned earlier on this blog, Highland Park distillery will expand their travel retail 'Warrior'-series this autumn. This will add the expressions 'Sigurd' 'Ragnvald' and 'Thorfinn' to their range.

Prices have taken a heft bump upwards, as have the packaging - see below (official notes):

Highland Park 'Sigurd' 43% - Price €150

Colour:
Autumnal gold, clear and bright

Nose:

Fresh hay bales, mango, golden syrup sponge, caramelised pineapple and a fragrant smokiness

Taste:

Sweet lemon peel, spicy cinnamon bark, oaky woodiness and hint of lavender

Finish:

Spicy smokiness with lingering dusty wood notes

Highland Park 'Ragnvald' 44,6% - Price €400

Colour:

Medium russet, clear and bright

Nose:
Ripe damsons, oriental spices, candied peel and night scented stock

Taste:
Well-balanced smoke and sweet, grated nutmeg, vanilla pods and high cocoa chocolate

Finish:
Complex lingering gingery spiciness and smoke

Highland Park 'Thorfinn' 45,1% - Price €1,000

Colour:
Dark russet, clear and bright

Nose:
Cedarwood, camphor, mango, coriander, spicy smokiness and vanilla pods

Taste:
Very complex, ginger root to the fore followed by smoked oak.

Finish:Complex lingering spiciness and smoke

The Thorfinn youtube video is for some reason hidden on youtube, but you can access it through this link... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9j6ZweEPL0

Official pictures by Highland Park

GLENDRONACH SINGLE CASK BATCH 8 NOW OUT

GLENDRONACH has today, 5 July, released Batch 8 of its renowned single cask bottlings.

 

Selected by Master Blender Billy Walker, this latest batch was filled in May and all eight expressions are available as of today.

 

The eight, ranging from 42 to 10 years old, share GlenDronach's typically luxurious, richly-sherried and fruity characteristics, with waves of delightful eucalyptus, plums, damsons, sweet chocolate, almonds…even toffee-drenched raisins and red chilli!

 

One of the eight is an aspiring youngster – the new kid on the block is a zesty 10 year old from cask 1988. On the nose, white pepper and cinnamon. On the palate, treacle-covered ripe autumn fruits, fresh mint and toasted nuts. An unusual but hugely appealing young Highland malt to savour while relaxing in a sun-lounger this year!

 

The cask details are:

 

1971 cask # 1246 / 42 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 44.6%vol

1990 cask # 2971 / 22 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 50.8%vol

1991 cask # 5409 / 21 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 49.8%vol

1992 cask # 145 / 21 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 58.1%vol

1993 cask # 3 / 20 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 52.9%vol

1994 cask # 101 / 19 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 58.4%vol

1996 cask # 1490 / 17 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.1%vol

2002 cask # 1988 / 10 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 55.6%vol

 

Source: Glendronach Distillery website

OFFICIAL DANISH LAUNCH OF HIGHLAND PARK 'LOKI' IN COPENHAGEN

An old saying goes something like 'Whisky is liquid sunshine' and if this is true, I had my first whisky early this morning. The sky was clear and the sun was shining bright when I left home, bound for Copenhagen, to participate in the Danish launch of the latest in Highland Park's Valhalla Collection - the 'Loki'.

The very skill full Highland Park crew has certainly, as with 'Loki's predecessor 'Thor', made a promise of something even more special than with the 'Thor' - a whisky to reflect 'Loki' - a changeling, a shape shifter and manipulative and devious character - but is he good? or bad? He's certainly an ever changing character according to the mythology that surrounds him.

Senior Danish Brand Ambassador for Highland Park - Martin Markvardsen welcomed us at 'Den Holmske Gaard' in downtown Copenhagen - a building from the same year as Highland Park Distillery was established on Orkney - 1798. Tables were beautiffully set with peat, malted barley, cask staves and heather.

Table is set for a tasting experience

A duo of whisky was poured... a Highland Park 18yo to accompany a starter of smoked salmon and cheddar mixed with roast beef with rustic bread on the side - a lovely combo with the 18yo expression and no further comments needed as the Highland Park 18yo is a classic dram!

'Thor' was next and its natural cask strength of 52,1% abv made it go very nicely with the potato base, white cod and lumpfish roe. This dram still packs a mighty punch and notes on it can be found in the report from last years launch of it here.

A third and final glass was left empty when the first 2 were poured...this last one, of course being for the 'Loki' - but before we give this new expression a taste - let's find out what kind of guy Loki really was... and to help us find that out 2 external speakers - Flemming Kaul from the Danish National Museum and Morten Warmind from Copenhagen University.

Morten Warmind (left) Copenhagen University & Flemming Kaul from the Danish National Museum (right)

Where Thor is the God of the Heavens and Thunder and Odin is God of Wisdom, nobody can really place Loki in any realm although he's been know to shapeshift into almost any form of creature... but the main thing Loki always is associated with is fire - so is it possible -if anything- he's a God of Fire?

Nobody seems to be sure about Loki and -at least according to the old Norse Chronicles- he's once been dressed up as a bridesmaid, shifted in both birds and salmon and into a mare to give birth to Odin's horse 'Sleipnir' and at other times fathered both the wolf 'Fenrir' and the Midgard Serpent (World Serpent). Loki was also the main force behind the killing of Odin's favourite son - the God Balder. It was certainly exiting times back in Midgard...

Again with the 'Loki'-release, Highland Park aims to have the whisky reflect the character of the God... but how do you do this with a guy like Loki? This was, according to Martin, quite an extra challenge this time for Max Mcfarlane - the Highland Park whiskymaker as they wanted a whisky that would be multi faceted



Martin Markvardsen introducing the 'Loki'

Let's debunk the 'Loki' whisky with a bit of important -and not revealed before- info...

Highland Park 'Loki' 15yo 48,7%, 21000 bottles, Distillery Bottling

Made up of all refill sherry casks and malt was dried with mainland peat only giving it a bit more edge, not the usual more aromatic Orkney style peat.

Colour is full gold

Nose:
Citrus and a thin layer of peat, spices, hint of cumin and aniseed, very fresh with salt and ozone- but with a certain depth to it as well. Also a lovely sweetness to it, like honey and oranges.

Taste:
First a sweet mid tongue arrival on honey and fresh citrus fruits. Then a rush of spice, mainly peppery in style and then a return again of the lovely citrus fruits and then fades on creamy malt and soft yet noticeable smoke.

This is a great follow-up to the 'Thor' from last year... even better! ...and certainly a whisky that challenges your palate somewhat with its facets.

Tastings notes done from sample on fresh palate as the 'Loki' was served a piece of lamb and tartar and capers and roasted rye bread.

90/100!

SKÅL!

Finally, thank you to Martin Markvardsen for the invitation to the launch!

NEW RELEASES - DENMARK EXCLUSIVES + GLANN AR MOR

The Autumn always sees new releases and Danish importer FC Whisky has again secured some bottlings exclusively for Denmark.

Like earlier in the year we got 2 single cask bottlings coming our way from indie bottler Signatory. The previous 2 - a Bowmore and an Imperial which were both really good are reviewed here and here.

This time we have a cask of Glenrothes 1996 and a North British 1997 grain hitting the shelves before long. Details on the bottlings can be found on the labels below:
























FC Whisky also imports Kilchoman to Denmark and the 7th danish single cask is a 6yo Kilchoman from a fresh ex-bourbon barrel. FC Whisky is the first to bottle a 6yo Kilchoman ever...

Full details on this one are:

Kilchoman 6yo Distillery bottling - Denmark Single Cask Release 7,  fresh bourbon barrel#162/2006.
Distilled 26.07.2006 – Bottled 08.10.2012 - 59,4% - 234 bottles!

On a bright final note, FC Whisky has also announced that they will start importing French Single Malt 'Glann ar Mor' and its peated twin - the 'Kornog'.

The Danish market will get these 3 bottlings from them:

- Kornog - 46%
- Kornog cask strength - 58,7% 'Taouarc'h an Hañv 2012'
- Glann ar Mor - 46%
















As the production from Glann ar Mor distillery is limited FC Whisky is very proud to get to represent Glann ar Mor in Denmark. The 'Kornog' peated version recently picked up 95points and a 'Liquid Gold Award' from whisky writer Jim Murray.

NEW GLENDRONACH CASK STRENGTH EDITION

The other day, Glendronach Distillery announced the launch of a new bottling.
Its going to a be a Cask Strength bottling without any age statement, bottled in batches from November 2012 and on and will be available for your Xmas-shopping this year.

No retail price has been release yet...

Source: Glendronach Distillery website http://glendronachdistillery.com/

We are excited to give a preview of our latest GlenDronach expression - the GlenDronach Cask Strength!

This expression is not available in the market yet - it will be bottled in November. The whisky is matured in a combination of the finest Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks. It is non chill filtered and of natural colour.

Tasting notes:

Colour

A deep golden body glistens with rich crimson.

Nose

A luscious balance of succulent sherry aromas explode in honey drizzled golden sultanas spiced by warm oak and gentle ginger.

Palate

Intense toffee and cocoa cascade into the rich sherry soaked dark fruits. Zested orange explodes in the long alcohol infused chocolate fondant.

Finish

Long and lingering.

Another preview and tasting notes can be found on the Whiskyfun website.

DIAGEO SPECIAL RELEASES 2012

Again this year, Diageo will offer us bottlings in their Annual (special) Release series.
Prices have, as expected, gotten another notch upwards as well...

LATE NEWS - NEW ARDBEG GALILEO

This is 'old' news by now, but because of Ardbeg's cult status among whiskylovers, I'd give it a late mention.

Ardbeg is putting out a new release in September this year, by the name of 'Galileo'
Its rumoured to an all 1999 vintage making it around a 12yo and matured in Marsala wine casks and bottled at 49%. Price will, according to rumours, land around the £60-70 mark.

The 'Galileo'-name has also been trademarked in the US, meaning this release will also be available there.
The US Treasury application can be found here

NEW RELEASE - PORT CHARLOTTE PC10

Bruichladdich makes it to the news often these days - especially with the news of their sale to French group Remy Cointreau.

This time the news is of a different nature - its a new release... and one this blogger is eager to try...

The Port Charlotte Spirit peated spirit from Bruichladdich has reached 10 years and a 6000 bottle release is due for August. The alc.% will be 59,8% and its an all ex-bourbon cask release.

Price will be around 95€ and the name of the release will be 'TRO NA LINNTEAN'

Official PC10 product sheet can be found here

Official Picture by Bruichladdich

NEW RELEASES - GLENDRONACH SINGLE CASKS BATCH 6

Today, July 13th has seen the release of the 6th batch of Glendronach single casks.


Bottlings are:

1971 cask#1247, 41 years old, Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon, 47.9%, approx 529 bottles

1978 cask#1068, 33 years old, Oloroso Sherry Puncheon, 52.9%, approx 318 bottles

1989 cask# 4885, 23 years old, Moscatel Barrel, 53.9%, approx 286 bottles

1990 cask#2966, 22 years old, Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon, 55.1%, approx 539 bottles

1993 cask#536, 19 years old, Oloroso Sherry Butt, 59.4%, approx 596 bottles

Source: Glendronach

LAPHROAIG CÁIRDEAS 2012 NOW ON SALE

Laphroaig Cáirdeas 2012 now on sale at Laphroaig Distillery webshop for £45/bottle - max 3 per customer. You have to be logged in and a registered member of 'Friends of Laphroaig' to purchase this bottling.

http://www.laphroaig.com/shop/product.aspx?ShopItemID=68

Bottles are  sold on a first come first served basis.

LAGAVULIN DISTILLERY OPEN DAY AT FEIS ILE 2012

The weather is beautiful at this years Islay Festival of Music and Malt - and so is the whisky, I'm sure... but sadly this afternoon -only a few hours after its release at Lagavulin Open Day event- a bottle found its way onto eBay - the bottle chasers are at it again, sadly! :-(

Bottle on eBay

Other news from Lagavulin boasts a 2012 release of a Lagavulin 21yo!
...I just wonder how much that one will sent set you back?

Anyway, to all you Feis Ile-goers - have a great week! :-)

UPDATE:

The same guy apparently also has a Feis Ardbeg available here and a Feis Bowmore here

Oh, Dear! :-/

NEW KARUIZAWA 1990 OUT!

New Karuiwaza 1990/2012 out from The Whisky Exchange in London - get one while you can:

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-15369.aspx

Karuizawa 1990 cask#679 (picture from TWE Website)

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE HIGHLAND PARK 'THOR' IN STOCKHOLM

I know this has been posted elsewhere back in February of this year on the WWW forum and later also featured on Whiskyintelligence.com...and since it's good event to show what sometimes goes to to these product launches -and my own review- here's the story once again:

‘Thor’sday February 16 saw the day of the official European launch of the latest Highland Park – their ‘Valhalla’-collection that promises to office whisky in the character style of the old Norse Gods.

A very exciting and also a hard project according to Martin Markvardsen – the Danish brand ambassador for Highland Park. Martin tells me it has taken a lot of research into old Viking writings and chronicles to come up with the profile for this whisky – but they have released the first edition – the ‘Thor’

The launch of Highland Park ‘Thor’ was set in the capitol city of our Swedish brothers – Stockholm and at the Viking theme restaurant of Aifur (http://www.aifur.se) a through and through concept with traditional long tables and benches, cutlery and the right décor and therefore also the right place for a launch of a whisky in this style. Aifur is located in Stockholm’s ‘Gamla Stan’ (Old town) with it cobbled streets starts to build up your expectations when you approach the place.

Thor Launch Stockholm February 16th 2012 © The Malt Desk

Thor Launch Stockholm February 16th 2012 © The Malt Desk

Martin Markvardsen said hello upon arrival and after getting a welcoming drink in my hand I quickly found a seat and started chatting with a guy from a local Stockholm whiskyclub.

Shortly after we were treated to a 3 course meal and a lecture about Viking travels by Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson from Stockholms University. To accompany the starter there was Highland Park 12yo + 18yo – 2 nice classics which was given a short introduction by Martin.

...and after the starter, it was time for the official launch of the ‘Thor’

Gerry Tosh gave an introduction to this new series and the concept behind before 2 tough looking Vikings in full armor carried a large chest down the stairs and hands Martin the keys.

He then unlocked the chest and in an old-religious style lifts out a bottle of ‘Thor’ and raises it above his head.

Thor Launch Stockholm February 16th 2012 © The Malt Desk

At the same time – a dram of the ‘Thor’ is passed around…

So let us de-mystify this much talked about latest release from Highland Park:

Highland Park ’Thor’ 16yo 52,1%, 23.000 Bottles
Cask ratios for this one deserves a mention as it’s not the normal Highland Park style. The ‘Thor’ is 90% refill American oak sherry casks and 10% first fill European oak

My notes are:

Nose:
Clearly peated, but not in the heavy islay-style, but still significant compared to the normal Highland Park peating level. At the same time it comes across light and fresh and with an earthy note I can only describe as a dunnage warehouse style. Also very fruity, citrus style, flowers in an orange grove?

Taste: The peat hits right away, but like on the nose, its light and disappears to the back of the mouth and lets a large amount tropical fruits and citrus (grape fruits?) notes and some vanilla and oak play on the palate. Also a little spicy and salty in the aftertaste – all which dries out to allow a whiff of trademark Highland Park honey to appear. All in all a whisky with a huge mouthfeel that also allows for finer notes to appear… and what really impresses me with this one, is its incredible freshness all the way on to its medium short finish again with the peat present.

It’s a nice piece of work by Highland Parks whiskymaker Max Mcfarlane for sure.

The next release will hit the streets before the end of the year, but it has still not been decided if it’s going to Freya or Loki that’s next

After the tasting there was a photo-op – here’s Martin Markvardsen and Gerry Tosh and the star of the evening - Thor:

Thor Launch Stockholm February 16th 2012 © The Malt Desk

Then it was time for mains and wine and music and entertainment, incl. an demonstration of how the Vikings passed time during the long winter nights. One of the games was ‘cheek pulling’… and the one who gave up first lost, of course – see a demo of it here:

Thor Launch Stockholm February 16th 2012 © The Malt Desk

After that it was time to lets some of the impressions settle a bit and have another taste of the ‘Thor’ from the bar and some of the local brew also. Martin and Gerry had commitments with Italian TV so it was a perfect time to indulge myself in another dram.

Before I left for the evening, Martin and I spend some time talking about the whisky scene incl. their business agreement with cooperage at the Sherry Bodega of Gonzales Byass, that does all the cask seasoning for them. Sometimes all the sherry is just poured away or sometimes its reused for another seasoning of new European oak casks. We alsos talked about the craftmansship involved in putting together these casks when a guy almost juggles this 500 liter butt around the coopers yard.

After an introduction to Gerry Tosh, Martin also let me know that Gerry is quitting as Global Brand ambassador to work fulltime in marketing. His job is taken over by Darryl Haldane, which btw is the guy with the mobile in the picture with the 2 cheek-pullers.

It was a very enjoyable evening indeed…and the next day snowy Stockholm showed itself from its beautiful side with the sun coming out just before noon and by that creating the perfect conditions for a walk around the ‘Old Town’ in Stockholm… it is recommended for sure – just as the Highland Park ‘Thor’... so good I just had to have one myself.

Finally a thanks to Martin for the invitation to the event.

Slainthé! ... or rather SKÅL!